During the pre-draft period, rumors tend to reach exaggerated levels, and the latest one is reaching unprecedented heights.
Who else but @adamrank to lay out what the @ChicagoBears should do with the 9th overall pick🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/wFNk3QWXao
— NFL Total Access (@NFLTotalAccess) April 11, 2024
The idea that Marvin Harrison Jr. deliberately sabotaged his draft prospects to join the Bears and become teammates with Caleb Williams is perhaps one of the most outlandish conspiracy theories in sports history.
Harrison has met with the Cardinals, who hold the fourth pick, the Giants at sixth, and the Bears at ninth. All three teams are in need of wide receivers.
The Bears make a big swing and pair Caleb Williams with Marvin Harrison Jr. in our latest mock 😲🐻 pic.twitter.com/0liZPyzVOk
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) April 4, 2024
Despite mock drafts consistently placing him with the Cardinals, the notion of him purposely tanking his draft position to land with the Bears is flawed for several reasons.
Firstly, it makes little financial sense. Deliberately falling to the ninth pick would cost Harrison a significant amount of bonus money compared to being drafted fourth.
Secondly, there’s a considerable gap between the fourth and ninth picks, making it improbable for Harrison to control his landing spot even if he attempted to manipulate his draft stock.
Thirdly, the Cardinals have a clear need for a receiver and may not be deterred by Harrison’s absence from the combine and pro day workouts, contrary to the unfounded speculation.
Former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum latest mock on ESPN has the Bears ending up with:
1. Caleb Williams
9. Marvin Harrison Jr.To me this would be one of the best drafts in recent memory. Thoughts on this Chicago 👀 #DaBears #Bears #ChicagoBears
— Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) March 26, 2024
Additionally, trading up with the Cardinals would require the Bears to give up valuable draft picks, which they may not be willing to do, especially considering their lack of a second-round pick this year.
Furthermore, Harrison’s decision to skip combine and pro day workouts is not tantamount to tanking; rather, it reflects his confidence in his position as the top receiver prospect.
Ultimately, Harrison’s approach to preparation for the NFL season, focusing on football rather than showcase events, is supported by his father and aligns with the experiences of other players who have found such events to be less beneficial than expected.
THE CHICAGO BEARS PODCAST @PatTheDesigner & @CourtneyRCronin
Did Marvin Harrison Jr tank his draft status to fall to the @ChicagoBears??https://t.co/7FhDMofdot
— ESPN 1000 (@ESPN1000) April 16, 2024
Therefore, the idea that Harrison intentionally undermined his draft stock to join the Bears is unfounded, and he is likely to be drafted by the Cardinals instead.
